EFC 83: Du Plessis Returns and Retains, Fiorot Claims
Dricus Du Plessis’ homecoming is a successful one.
After two years away from the EFC, where he achieved champ-champ status, and spending time in KSW, where he briefly held the KSW title, Du Plessis returned in the main event of EFC 83. In front of his home crowd at Time Square in Pretoria, South Africa, he finished 3-0 interim champion Brendan Lesar to unify the EFC middleweight championship.
The fight featured plenty of exchanges in the first four minutes before Du Plessis clipped and dropped Lesar with a one-two before locking up a guillotine choke to submit the winner ofThe Fighter season one, retaining the 185-pound belt and handing Lesar his first loss as a pro.
After the fight, Du Plessis teased desire for champ-champ status once more, this time aiming for the EFC light heavyweight title.
"That light heavyweight division is looking a little thin and my left shoulder is getting a little cold." – @dricusduplessis #EFC83
— #EFC83 14 Dec -Du Plessis vs Lesar, Lino vs Fiorot (@EFCworldwide) December 14, 2019
After some exchanging to start off their fight, Fiorot managed to pressure Lino back to the cage and scored a takedown. Fiorot continued her attack in the second, adding in shots using her reach advantage to consistently force Lino back.
Lino, the defending champion, attempted to deliver pressure back in the third, connecting with several strikes and combinations, but still taking some as well. Fiorot, however, scored several big takedowns over the last two rounds and delivered nasty ground-and-pound in the fifth en route to claiming the championship and ending Lino’s champ-champ status.
To unify the EFC middleweight championship: (c) Dricus Du Plessis def. (ic) Brendan Lesar via submission (guillotine choke) (Rd. 1, 4:15)
EFC women’s flyweight championship: Manon Fiorot def. (c) Amanda Lino via unanimous decision (50-43, 50-45, 50-45)
Anicet Kanyeba def. Saxon Delafield via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-28, 29-28)
Devon Cronje def. Marino Cutendana via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
Sylvester Chipfumbu def. Asiashu Tshitamba via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)